Famous Quotes by Otto von Bismarck
On Germany and Unification
1. Not by speeches and votes of the majority, are the great questions of the time
decided…but by iron and blood.
2. An appeal to fear never finds an echo in German hearts.
On Foreign Policy
3. So clobbeth the Poles (Poland) so that they despair; they have my deepest
sympathy for their situation, but, if we want to exist, we have no choice but to
wipe them out; the wolf cannot help it that he was created by God the way he is,
but one shoots him yet, if one can.
4. A conquering army on the border will not be stopped by eloquence.
5. God has a special providence for fools, drunks, and the United States of
America.
On Politics
6. He who has his thumb on the purse has the power.
7. With bad laws and good civil servants it's still possible to govern. But with bad
civil servants even the best laws can't help.
8. A government must not waiver once it has chosen its course. It must not look
to the left or right but go forward.
9. I have seen three emperors in their nakedness, and the sight was not
inspiring.
10. Laws are like sausages, it is better not to see them being made.